Interchangeable Polishing and Buffing Device

ABSTRACT

The disclosed polishing devices include an adaptor including a conical body including a first body end and a second body end, wherein a diameter of the second body end is greater than a diameter of the first body end. The adaptor also includes a drill bit including a shank configured to engage with a chuck of an electrical drill, wherein the drill bit extends from the second body end of the conical body. The polishing device also includes a first polishing pad surrounding an outer surface of the conical body. The first polishing pad includes an outer surface of the first polishing pad and an inner surface of the first polishing pad, wherein the inner surface of the first polishing pad is in contact with an outer surface of the conical body of the adaptor. The first polishing pad also includes an elastic strap extending from one portion of the second body end to another portion of the second body end. The second body end of the conical body includes at least one channel for receiving the elastic strap of the first polishing pad such that the polishing pad remains secure on the conical body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference and claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application 61/698,631 filed on Sep. 8, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to devices and methods forpolishing and buffing various surfaces.

There are a wide variety of surfaces that require polishing and/orbuffing. For example, granite countertops, leather shoes, purses,furniture, stainless steel sinks, silverware, car seats, metalautomotive grills, automotive hubcaps, and automotive paint, amongothers, require regular polishing. However, each surface requires adifferent polishing tool or cloth, along with a different polishingsolution. Further polishing these various surfaces is both timeconsuming and laborious, if not physically challenging.

Conventional rotary buffing tools are typically designed for onepurpose. For example, electric shoe polishers, which are largelyineffective as they only buff the top surface of the shoe, are onlydesigned to polish shoes. Similarly, electric buffing tools forautomobiles are designed for a particular surface. For example, onebuffing tool may be suitable for buffing the paint surface ofautomobiles, whereas a different buffing tool is needed to polish orbuff the metallic hubcaps of the automobile. As a result, polishing thevarious surfaces of an automobile, including paint, metal, and plastic,requires various polishing devices and materials. Further, manypolishing devices cannot access many areas of an automobile to properlypolish the hard to reach areas, including the grill, side panels,headlight area, side mirrors, doors, door handles, trunk area, andrecessed light, among others.

Accordingly, there is a need for polishing devices that efficientlypolishes a variety of items and materials.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides polishing devices. Various examples ofthe devices are provided herein.

The devices disclosed herein provide a polishing device withinterchangeable polishing pads that are capable of polishing a widevariety of surfaces and applications. The design of the device is suchthat an adaptor is enabled to connect to any electric drill, butparticularly portable hand held drills. A variety of polishing pads maybe attached and removed from the adaptor to provide polishing solutionsappropriate for different materials.

In an embodiment, the polishing device comprises an adaptor including aconical body including a first body end and a second body end, wherein adiameter of the second body end is greater than a diameter of the firstbody end. The adaptor also includes a drill bit including a shankconfigured to engage with a chuck of an electrical drill, wherein thedrill bit extends from the second body end of the conical body.

The polishing device also includes a first polishing pad surrounding anouter surface of the conical body. The first polishing pad includes anouter surface of the first polishing pad and an inner surface of thefirst polishing pad, wherein the inner surface of the first polishingpad is in contact with an outer surface of the conical body of theadaptor. The first polishing pad also includes an elastic strapextending from one portion of the second body end to another portion ofthe second body end. The second body end of the conical body includes atleast one channel for receiving the elastic strap of the first polishingpad such that the polishing pad remains secure on the conical body. Inone example, the channel may be a rectangular divot (or a pair ofdivots) in the second body end.

In one example, the first polishing pad includes a seamless reticulatedpolyester foam, which may have a thickness between 0.5 inches and 3inches, including 0.5 inches and 3 inches. In another example, the outersurface of the first polishing pad includes polishing fibers and theinner surface of the first polishing pad includes a backing to which thepolishing fibers adhere. Alternatively, the inner surface of the firstpolishing pad may include a seamless reticulated polyester foam and theouter surface of the first polishing pad includes polishing fibers. Thepolishing fibers may be, for example, wool fibers.

The first polishing pad may be a seamless reticulated polyester foam,and the polishing device may further include a second polishing pad. Thesecond polishing pad may include an outer surface of the secondpolishing pad and an inner surface of the second polishing pad. Theouter surface of the second polishing pad may include polishing fibersand the inner surface of the second polishing pad may include a backingto which the polishing fibers adhere. In addition, the inner surface ofthe second polishing pad may surround the outer surface of the firstpolishing pad.

An advantage of the present device is providing a polishing tool withinterchangeable polishing pads applicable to a variety of materials. Inother words, only one device is needed to polish a variety of surfaces.

Another advantage of the present device is that it provides an efficientbuffing pad that does not damage the surface of the material on which itis used even with applied pressure.

A further advantage of the present device is that the conical shapeprovides for precision polishing and buffing of hard to reach areas.

Another advantage of the present device is providing interchangeablepolishing pads that can be removed easily for cleaning.

Yet another advantage of the present device is providing an adaptor suchthat the device may be attached to any conventional electric drill.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned byproduction or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages ofthe concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies,instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord withthe present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations.In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the polishing device inconnection with an electric drill.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the polishing device in connection with anelectric drill.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the adaptor.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the adaptor.

FIG. 5 is a back perspective view of an embodiment of the adaptor.

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of the adaptor in combination with afirst polishing pad.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the adaptor in combination with a firstpolishing pad and a second polishing pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the presently disclosed polishing device 10in connection with an electric drill. In an embodiment, the polishingdevice 10 comprises an adaptor 12, as shown in FIGS. 2-3. The adaptor 12includes a conical body 16 including a first body end 18 and a secondbody end 20, wherein a diameter of the second body end 20 is greaterthan a diameter of the first body end 18. The conical shape allows auser to polish objects having areas that are hard to access, such asthose having small openings and crevasses. FIG. 4 shows a front view ofthe adaptor 12, wherein the first body end 18 has rounded edges. Therounded edges of the first body end 18 help to prevent the polishingdevice 10 from scratching or damaging the object and/or material beingpolished, even in a situation in which a user applies additional forceto the polishing device 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the adaptor 12 also includes a drill bit including ashank 14 configured to engage with a chuck of an electrical drill,wherein the drill bit extends from the second body end 20 of the conicalbody 16. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the shank 14 may be a hex-shaped shank14. Although, any suitable drill bit having any suitable shape of theshank 14 may be used to connect the adaptor 12 to the electric drillsuch that the adaptor 12 rotates upon activating the electric drill. Thedrill bit may be made by injection molding of a polypropylene plasticwith an embedded zinc-plated shank 14. Of course, alternativeconstruction techniques may be used.

As shown in FIG. 6, the polishing device 10 also includes a firstpolishing pad 24 surrounding an outer surface of the conical body 16.The first polishing pad 24 includes an outer surface 32 and an innersurface 34, wherein the inner surface 34 is in contact with the conicalbody 16 of the adaptor 12. The first polishing pad 24 also includes anelastic strap 26 spanning an opening 36 of the first polishing pad 24such that, when fitted to the adapter 12, the elastic strap extends fromone portion of the second body end 20 to another portion of the secondbody end 20 to secure the first polishing pad 24 in place on the adapter12. For example, the elastic strap 26 may extend generally along thediameter of the second body end 20. The first polishing pad 24 mayinclude more than one elastic strap 26 to further secure the firstpolishing pad 24 to the conical body 16 of the adaptor 12.

To mate with the elastic strap 26, the second body end 20 of the conicalbody 16 may include at least one channel 22 for receiving the elasticstrap 26 of the first polishing pad 24 such that the first polishing pad24 remains secure on the conical body 16. As shown in FIGS. 5-6, in theexample provided, the second body end 20 includes two channels 22 forreceiving the elastic strap 26. As shown, the channels 22 arerectangular divots located in the edge of the second body end 20.

The first polishing pad 24 may include a polymer-based foam, such as aseamless reticulated polyester foam, which may have a thickness between0.5 inches and 3 inches, including 0.5 inches and 3 inches. The polymerbased foam may be used to polish certain objects and materials, such asfor automobile detailing of both metal and paint. The seamless designmay be accomplished by router cutting or injection molding during themanufacturing process.

In another example, the outer surface 32 of the first polishing pad 24includes polishing fibers and the inner surface 34 of the firstpolishing pad 24 includes a backing to which the polishing fibersadhere. For example, the first polishing pad 24 may include a microfibermaterial that is typically used in automotive detailing. Alternatively,the first polishing pad 24 may include natural seared wool with apolyester and cotton blend as the backing.

Alternatively, the inner surface 34 of the first polishing pad 24 mayinclude a seamless reticulated polyester foam and the outer surface 32of the first polishing pad 24 includes polishing fibers. In other words,the first polishing pad 24 may be a foam lined microfiber pad or woolpad with an elastic strap 26 to secure the first polishing pad 24 to theadaptor 12. The microfiber or wool may be attached to a foam backing padto minimize the impact of the seam of the microfiber pad or wool padwhen used with an electric drill. In addition, the use of a foam linedfirst polishing pad 24 allows the application of various levels ofpressure to increase or decrease the cutting level of the firstpolishing pad 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the polishing device 10 may include more than onepolishing pad 24. For example, the first polishing pad 24 may be aseamless reticulated polyester foam, and the polishing device 10 mayfurther include a second polishing pad 28. The second polishing pad 28may include an outer surface 38 and an inner surface 40. The outersurface 38 of the second polishing pad 28 may include polishing fibersand the inner surface 40 of the second polishing pad 28 may include abacking to which the polishing fibers adhere. In addition, the innersurface 40 of the second polishing pad 28 may surround the outer surface32 of the first polishing pad 24.

The first polishing pad 24 and/or the second polishing pad 28 may becolor coordinated to indicate a pad suitable for a unique application,which allows a user to apply different waxes or polishing withoutinadvertently combining chemicals. For example, black first polishingpad 24 may be designated for polishing black shoes with a black shoepolish. A red first polishing pad 24 may be designated for polishingbrown shoes with a brown shoe polish. Color coordinating is veryimportant when working with various chemicals that are potentiallydangerous when combined.

The disclosed polishing device 10 provides a solution for precisionbuffing, cutting, polishing, and finishing of detailed parts constructedof various materials including metal, stone, paint, plastic, and glass,among others. In other words, the presently disclosed polishing device10 enables a user to polish various surfaces with the use of one tool,namely, the polishing device 10.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to theembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishingits attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the methodand portable electronic device may be provided based on variouscombinations of the features and functions from the subject matterprovided herein.

We claim:
 1. A polishing device comprising: an adaptor including: aconical body including a first body end and a second body end, wherein adiameter of the second body end is greater than a diameter of the firstbody end; and a drill bit including a shank configured to engage with achuck of an electrical drill, wherein the drill bit extends from thesecond body end of the conical body; and a first polishing padsurrounding an outer surface of the conical body, wherein the firstpolishing pad includes: an outer surface of the first polishing pad andan inner surface of the first polishing pad, wherein the inner surfaceof the first polishing pad is in contact with an outer surface of theconical body of the adaptor; and an elastic strap extending from oneportion of the second body end to another portion of the second bodyend, wherein the second body end of the conical body includes at leastone channel for receiving the elastic strap of the first polishing padsuch that the polishing pad remains secure on the conical body.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the first polishing pad includes a seamlessreticulated polyester foam.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the firstpolishing pad has a thickness between 0.5 inches and 3 inches, including0.5 inches and 3 inches.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the outersurface of the first polishing pad includes polishing fibers and theinner surface of the first polishing pad includes a backing to which thepolishing fibers adhere.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the innersurface of the first polishing pad includes a seamless reticulatedpolyester foam and the outer surface of the first polishing pad includespolishing fibers.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first polishingpad is a seamless reticulated polyester foam, and wherein the polishingdevice further includes a second polishing pad, wherein the secondpolishing pad includes an outer surface of the second polishing pad andan inner surface of the second polishing pad, wherein the outer surfaceof the second polishing pad includes polishing fibers and the innersurface of the second polishing pad includes a backing to which thepolishing fibers adhere, wherein the inner surface of the secondpolishing pad surrounds the outer surface of the first polishing pad. 7.The device of claim 1 wherein the channel is a rectangular divot in thesecond body end.